MERCHANT OF VENICE.

Each line, each verfe,

Here shall revive, redeem thee from thy hearfe.
Befure, my Shakespeare! thou can'st never die,
But, crown'd with laurel, live eternally!

L. DIGGE s.

Vignette.

Head-piece.

THE Vignette Scene-print to Bell's last edition by M. de Loutherbourg, is fo well defigned, and the ornaments fo happily imagined, that I would propofe a fac fimile of it, for the head-piece. No alteration whatever I think should be made, unless indeed the dress of Gratiano were lefs cumbrous, and his face more expreffive-and the laft look of Shylock fhould be directed more to Gratiano than to the audience. The figure of Shylock is as finely drawn, as that by Ramberg is meanly fo. Mr. Bell, is indeed right, when in his address he says-" The public have much to expect from the fuperior talents of Mr. Loutherbourghis having long-lived in habits of intimacy with Mr. Garrick, his familiarity with the stage, and dramatic effect, added to the renown he has acquired in every line of his profeffion, promises to foar ftill higher on the present occasion.' His figure of this masterly character, fhews ·Strong conceptions of deep malevolence. It is indeed infinitely superior to any defign yet given of the Jew, nor can any other bear the leaft competition with it, unless it be the print mentioned for page 225.

Scene-Prints.

As Launcelot is no small favourite on the stage, and poffeffes a good share of the drollery of Shakespeare's clowns, I would exhibit him for page 158; where I think this unthrifty knave will appear to more advantage

F

And if the figure of Launcelot, in the print which reprefents that very fcene in Taylor's "Picturefque Beauties of Shakespeare," should not be entirely approved of: we may felect from this fame print, the figure of Gobbo, which I think will be liable to no objection. And from Canaletti's Views of Venice, or from the Views of Venice, engraved by Luca Carlevariis, or any of the other books on the buildings of Italy, may be felected some small buildings to fill up the back-ground. Of the comedians who have moft fhone in the character of Launcelot, I believe the following names have been the most confpicuous-Neale *, Shuter + (or COmical Ned of Covent-Garden,") Woodward ‡, W. Palmer §, Yates ||, Quick, and our favourite Edwin. This part might have been given in Shakespeare's time to Will. Kempe, who was as well in the favour of her Majeftie, as in the opinion and good thoughts of the general audi

ence."

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Page

*Neale was a fort of grotesque actor, whofe particular talent was fuited only to fome very peculiar characters, in which he was fure to excel every body elfe. He excelled in Shakespeare's Launcelot. DAVIES'S LIFE OF GARRICK..

+Shuter's Launcelot is equal to our warmest wishes.

WILKES.

Launcelot, another child of laughter, was reprefented with extreme pleafant propriety by Mr. Woodward.The archnefs and fimplicity requifite, were blended by him judiciously. DRAM. CENSOR.

§ OLD Gobbo, by Mr. Parfons, is the character Shakespeare intended; and his fon Launcelot, is pleafantly hit off by Mr. W. Palmer. THEAT. REV. V. I.

MR. Yates is perhaps the only actor living who seems to have a just notion of Shakespear's fools; there is a chastness about his playing those characters, that forms the best comment on that great poet, and illuftrates the true force of his pen;-add to all thefe, he dreffes his parts with fingular propriety;. THEAT, BIOGRAPHY, 177

Page 178.

In this page, the warm affection of generous friendship is thus beautifully expreffed:

Sal. A kinder gentleman treads not the earth.
I faw Baffanie and Anthonio part.

And even there, his eye being big with tears,
Turning his face, he put his hand behind him,
And with affection wond'rous fenfible

He wrung Baffanio's hand and so they parted.

Salan. I think, he only loves the world for him.*

To feel the full force of thefe lines, we should refer to the feveral fituations of these two persons throughout the whole courfe of this playparticularly at the pages 138, 200, 201, 204, and 224.

THERE might be a half-length metzotinto of them; and the dress of Bassanio may be partly taken from the print to Bell's first edition, from

* THIS noble spirit of friendship might have been realized, when my lord Southampton (the dear and generous friend of Shakespeare) embarked for the seige of Rees in the Dutchy of Cleve.

A SITUATION (between Anthonio and Bassanio) somewhat fimilar to that in the text, and which offers a very fine fubject for the pencil will be found in the tryal scene, at the line of;

fpeak me fair in death

I think the preference will be given to this last.